Springing for railway trucks



Aug. 25, 1942. M. CHAMBERS SPRINGING FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 061;.

INVENTOR;

62077259225, BY WW ATTORNEYS.

BaacM- g- 1942- 1. M. CHAMBERS SPRINGING FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed- Oct. 10, 1941 Ill IIHIHI INVENTOR:

BaacMJfia/Mers, BY' W W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES ATT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention has general reference to railway trucks, preferably, of the bolster type wherein each end of the bolster is spring supported from below within the window of the corresponding side frame of the truck, and alignedly related springs likewise support the wheel axle bearing boxes from below.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of springing, of the above referred to general type, including a main and longitudinally spaced lappingly arranged springs mounted in the truck side frame so that low-amplitude high-frequency shocks are absorbed by the secondary springs, while the high-amplitude low-frequency shocks are absorbed by the main spring.

Another feature of this invention is a truck springing, of the type indicated in the preceding paragraph, wherein the main and secondary springs are all of the semi-elliptic species and serially mounted, while the ends of the main spring react on an individual secondary spring, whereas said secondary springs have the respective inner ends thereof fulcrumed in the side frame, proximate the center line of the truck, with their outer ends fulcrumed directly below the journal boxes.

A further feature is the provision, in combination with leaf springing of the above stated character, of over-stress preventing and safety- 1 stop means in the truck side frame for contact by the main spring and the secondary springs respectively.

Other features with ancillary advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed explanation of the preferred embodiment thereof, shown by the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in all the views, while the concluding claims more particularly define the items of novelty over the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part vertical section and part side view of a railway truck including the novel springing of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a staggered plan section, taken approximately as indicated by the angle arrows and broken lines IIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on the plane III-III in Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the truck side frame as viewed from the right-hand of Fig. 1 or looking towards the left-hand thereof.

In describing the form of this invention exemplified by the above captioned drawings herewith, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that the scope of said invention is not thereby limited, each such term being deemed to embrace all reasonable equivalents capable of performing the same function for an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, there is typified a hollow truck frame 5 of compact and strong construction, the same embodying an upper compression portion 6 and a lower tension portion I, with struts B interconnecting said portions at either side of the bolster window 9, while providing guide means for the end of the bolster H1, said bolster end including walls I I paralleling the struts 8, and a pocket I2 in the underside. In addition, the truck frame 5 has end journal boxes I3 with cross-ties I I spacedly therebelow, said ties embodying vertically directed ribs l5, directly below and in alignment with the axis of rotation of the truck wheels it, each of which ribs includes a recess l1, whereby said ribsconstitute guide fulcrums for a purpose hereafter explained. The journal boxes I3 are, preferably, strengthened by vertical webs l8 projecting outwards from and coplanar with the side walls I9 of the frame 5, as readily seen in Fig. 4, while it is noteworthy the tension portion 1 is extended into approximate registration with the circumferential path of rotation of the wheels I5 for a purpose herafter clarified. In other words, the truck frame 5 is substantially of rectangular cross-section with the longitudinal side walls I9 merging into the journal boxes I 3 and the crossties I4 therebelow, while said walls are provided with triangulate access openings 29, of substantial proportions, to each side of the bolster end I0; and in addition the walls I9 are reinforced by opposedly inclined ribs 2 I, intermediate the journal boxes I3 and the relatively expanded section 22, of the tension portion I, below the bolster window 9, which is seen to best advantage in Fig. 2.

The bolster end I0 is sustained in the frame window 9, in accordance with this invention, by means of a semi-elliptic main spring 23 having at the mid-region a strap device 24 that holds its leaves together, with the slightly rounded top engaged in the recess 25 of a bearing plate 26 loose in the bolster end groove I2, hereinbefore referred to. Each end 21 of the main spring 23 reacts on spacedly aligned and partially underlying more flexible secondary springs 28, by engagement in the grooved upper part 29 of strap devices 32, centrally of said secondary springs. The inner ends RI of the secondary springs 28 bear on fulcrum ribs 32, close to the center line of the truck frame 5, across the tension portion l intermediate the walls I9 of said frame, while the outer ends 33 of said secondary springs 23 similarly bear on the fulcrums ll directly under the vertical center of the respective journal boxes 53. It will be clearly apparent that by forming the main and secondary springs 23, 28, respectively of sixteen leaves six-inch by one-half inch thick, and six-inch by three-eighths inch thick stock, the secondary springs 28 will be substantially lighter and more flexible, whereby shocks originating at the Wheels [6 are transmitted directly through the more flexible secondary springs 28 to the moresubstantial stiffer main spring 23,

and hence through the bolster if! to the car.

As a result, it is self-evident that low-amplitude 7 high-frequency shocks are absorbed by the "secondary springs 28, whereas the high-amplitude low-frequency shocks are absorbed by themain spring 23. a

It is to be further noted that the secondary springs 28 are so positioned that they b'ecomeinactive, by, the respectively-associated straps 3Q contacting, stop, pads. .34 "at the ends of. the frame tensionportion? I, after a predetermineddoad which is, .well beyond the .maximum axle capacity load;andthereaftertheload is. carried only by the main. spring v23; whereassaid main spring is protectedvefrom over-stress by its strapv 24 .contacting, a stop 35'centrallybridging the frame.5 spacedly above the tension portion 1 thereof It..-Will be. further understood that, with the springs ,23, 28 arranged and mounted. in series as hereinbefore stated, ,a helper spring effect is ob.- tained,v between said springs, which permits a greater over-solid load with a minimum of. spring travel, 'whil'e the stops .34Ifo'r the secondary springs 28-provide a. safetymeans in the .event offspring failure.

From the foregoing it will be evident that ,the herein describedgembodiment of the invention fullyjustifi'es thefe'aturing aims set forth in the opening, paragraphs .of this specification, and that changes .inthe minor details .of the. frame 5, and the..relativeproportions of the...springs. 23, .28, are..cntem,plated, .in -adapting saidjjinvention to 'difierent. types of-, railway trucks, without departing from..the. scope of the followingv claimsi Having .thus described .my invention,.I claim:

1. In a -trucl .of. the. typedescrib'ed; the .combination. of. a hollowside. frame including a bolster window and. journal i. boxes; a bolster with anend in .saidiivindow; .lappingly; related leafljsprings serially, mounted in the side .frame, one .of. said. leaf fsprings .medially supportingthe bolster-end, forup-and-downmovement in the frame window, .andv having its.v terminal ,partsreactively. engaged centrally. of the other leaf springs; .and means whereby, the last mentioned springs are individually fulcrumed at their ends proximately. central within the side frame and directly below the journal boxes.

.2; In, a truck of .the type described,. the combination of ahollow side frame including a bolster windo'wandjournal .boxes; a bolster with an end in .said window; .lappinglyrelated. leaf springs serially -mounted in the side frame, one of said leaf springsmedially supporting the bolster end, for. up-and down -movement in the frame window,- andhaving its terminal parts reactivelyengaged centrally of the other leaf springs; means whereby th'e last mentioned springs are individually fulcrumed at their inner ends proximate- 1y central within the side frame and at their outer ends directly below the journalboxes; and means effective to limit the travel of all of said springs as-well' as aifording safety stopsin'the event of spring. f ailure;

3;.Inxartruck .ofrthe type described, the combination of fa: hollow side frame. including a bolster window, a lower tension portion, and journal boxes at the ends of said frame; a bolster with an end in said window; a main semi-elliptic spring with planarly aligned longitudinally spaced secondary similar springs serially mounted in the side frame; said main spring having a strap medially supporting the bolster, for upand-down movement in the frame window, with its terminal parts reactively engaged on similar straps centrally of the secondary springs; spaced means medially across the frame tension portion with similarmeans directly below the journal boxes, said means respectively affording fulcrum support for the inner and outer termini of the secondary springs; and stops also on said tension portion efiective to limit the travel of-the-secondary springs andtoprevent over-stressing" of the main spring.

4. The combination according to claim" 3, wherein the-truck hollow side frameiis mainly of rectangular cross-section with triangulate access openings in the side Walls adjoining the bolster window; and the tension portion of said frame is extended into approximate "registration with the circumferential "path of rotation of the truck wheels.

5'. The combinationaccording to' claim 3, wherein the truck'hollow'frame longitudinal side walls merge into the journal boxes, the tension portion embodies a relatively expandedysection below the bolster window, opposedlyinclinedribs intermediate the journal boxes andsaid expanded section. reinforce the side'walls,"the fulcrum supports for the inner termini of .the secondary springs consist of *ribs across the expanded section of the frame .tension' portion proximate: the center ofithe truck frame, and the .fulcrum'supports for the outer termini ofisaid secondary springs are in the form ofinverted' T"-section cross-ties intermediate thev frame. side .walls .and

directly below the axis of rotation'for truck wheels having bearing in the journal boxes.

6. The combination according to claim .3, wherein the main semi-elliptic spring comprises aplurality of comparatively, thick'leaves, and the secondary springs .consistof a considerably less number of relatively thinner leaves; whereby said main spring serves as the full'load carrier with the secondary springs each operating as a helper or half-load carrier.

7. springing, for truck hollow side frames including a window opening with a load sustaining bolster end movable upeand-down therein and longitudinally spaced journal boxes, comprising. superposed serially. associated. semi-elliptic springs mounted in a common .plane within. the side frame, one of said springs centrally supportingthe bolster end with its terminal portions reactively engaging themid-region of the other 'of said springs, and means medially central within the. side frame and. directly. below'the center ofv the journal boxes .aff'ording fulcrum bearing for the ends of the secondary springs.

8. The combination of claim. '7, wherein one of the superposed serially associated springsincludes a strap having a rounded topengageable in a confronting recess at the underside of the bolster end, and the ends of said springcoact with grooves in the upper partsv of similar straps centrally: embracing the lower of" said serially associated springs.

ISAAC M. CHAMBERS. 

